Mom, Dad, friends, I have a confession for you all...I am a fangirl. I know for many of you this seems like a surprise...actually, no, you all knew this, who am I kidding? For my friends out there who didn't know this, now you do. I am a fangirl in college and am pretty proud to be one.
This can cause a lot of problems for people, because they're embarrassed of their fandoms, or they are afraid they will seem immature to people who don't know them yet. What these people don't understand is that with every person they meet, one of those people is most likely a fangirl, too!
How do I know this? On any given day walking around campus, I see at least two people wearing One Direction, "5 Seconds of Summer," or "Harry Potter" merchandise and every time I do, I say hello and compliment them on their shirt/bracelet/bag/whatever it happens to be, just to let them know they aren't alone. I see "Star Wars," "Supernatural," "Doctor Who," "Sherlock," and plenty of different anime adorned on the backs and chests of students all over campus, and this article is to tell you how I do this every day, and why it is completely OK!
1. Yes, I am a Directioner. And a Belieber. And a Potter-head. And in the 5SOS Fam. Yes. Deal with it.
Be proud of your fandoms, everybody! They are a wonderful thing that continue to bring people together on a daily basis, and it is wonderful! Every day across campus, I will see somebody wearing a band/Marvel/DC/BBC/Fandom shirt on it, and it makes my spleen smile, because I know that they are proud of what they love. If somebody is representing a fandom you take part in, smile at them, or compliment their shirt! It's worth it, because you make a connection with another person. And, if you're the one getting the compliments, it feels amazing to have your passions appreciated, acknowledged and accepted.
2. Don't forget about Tumblr/Twitter!
College life is a busy one, yes, this is true. And, sadly, with our busy lives, thing like Twitter and Tumblr tend to fall to the wayside, unless we're madly procrastinating. If you've been in a fandom for a substantial period of time, there is a chance that at some point, you ran a fan account on one or both of these sites. Fangirls, I promise you, it is OK to revisit them and keep them alive! I think all of us have had one of those days like the one pictured above, or have at least really needed one. Do it, friends! Take a day to warm your heart with the underbelly of your laptop! Write all of the fan fiction! Read all of the tweets! Do it!
3. Get a fandom-related tattoo!
If you haven't, that's OK! If you have, that's OK, too! I did it almost a year ago, and it is quite possibly the best decision I have ever made! Yes, I have a One Direction tattoo! If you want to ask me about it, I would absolutely love to tell you why I have it and what makes it so special to me. That is the beauty of all tattoos, but especially a fandom tattoo. Seeing someone's face light up while they talk about something they love and how it has affected their life is an amazing thing to witness. If you want to remember your passions and obsessions from your teen years, a tattoo is definitely a great way to do it!
4. Hang posters!
Poster hanging is a wonderful way to show your love, but also remind yourself every day of the things that make you smile. I have 15 posters hanging amongst my walls, and every time I see them, I feel at home. It's also a fun way to bring up your fandom to other people in a casual way. When somebody comes over and you see them looking at your wall(s), just smile and spark a conversation about it. It's a fun way to tell people about what you love and keep your fandom in mind at most times of the day.
5. Always remember and never forget.
No matter what happens in life, always remember your fandoms, because fandoms are family. Not a day goes by that I don't remember a moment from my first One Direction concert, or when I saw the last Harry Potter movie for the first time. It reminds me of the little things that have made me into the person that I am today, and it's a beautiful experience to have. When you're 80 years old, remember your first boyband, your first Doctor, your first John Green novel, your first poster, your first concert. Then remember the last one. Remember the friends you've made because of the things you love. Remember the beautiful friends, moments, and memories that could have only been created by being in a fandom.
I really hope that, in some small way, this article helped you to remember your fandoms and to embrace your inner fangirl, because talking about all of this definitely helped me.
Fangirl on, friends!
